Never forget the feeling

Chapter Two

The school holidays are one of the many things Kassie does not miss about school. As a certified genius and being of Stark blood she has the not-so-bad habit of finishing homework for fun. High school gave Kassie enough homework to entertain her for a week or so before she'd flown through it all, leaving the next five weeks to nothing but boredom. The online college courses she did last year gave her more work to do but it wasn't challenging enough. When her father pulled her away from her civil engineering course one spring afternoon to design a suit for a new superhero gracing the streets of New York, she was more than ecstatic to work on something that truly challenged her.

It was Kassie's job to think of all the possible things a Spider themed super hero would need. Hours on hours of watching YouTube videos of the young hero's feats, theory videos and blogs that gave the young engineer an insight to what powers The Spider-Man possesses. Now, Kassie is never in a million years going to tell anyone that it was the most exciting time of her life designing something so different, new and original for the Spider-Man. But it truly was the best kind of challenge for the girl.

Working with the Avengers keeps the teen on her toes and requires her to be always thinking, designing and creating new things; gadgets, weapons, outfits and she loves it, every second.

Funnily enough Kassie finds Peter has the same habit; doing homework to occupy time, and by the look on his face, Kassie could say Peter was enjoying himself. Nearing the end of the first week of the summer holidays, Kassie wouldn't be surprised if by this time next week Peter would be gallivanting around in his spider suit trying his hardest to fight the boredom.

Kassie currently sits in her office writing up a conclusion for an experiment she'd been working on this week with Bruce. Peter on the other hand has his text books, binders and all kinds of papers sprawled out around him, as he sits at one of the long benches in the lab outside Kassie's office.

Windows near the ceiling of the labs walls let in the gentle rays of afternoon sun, giving the sterile white decor of the lab a warmer atmosphere. The yellow light shapes Peter's face beautifully as he drowns himself it what appears to be an essay. Kassie studies his face, paying careful attention to Peter's lips as he bites them in concentration. Pulling out a sheet of paper, she begins to draw the young boy as he slaves away over his homework. She focuses on the way his tongue darts out of his mouth. He licks his top lip in perhaps, thought, or a momentary shift in attention and his eyes roam the room for inspiration.

Kassie finds herself staring out her office windows a moment longer than is really, necessary. She eyes Peter intently as he softly mouths the words he's writing down. Kassie continues to observe as Peter stops for a moment, tapping his pen on the page. The boy looks up and scans the room, eye's catching Kassie as she throws her attention down to her work in order to avoid getting caught staring.

Peter pauses, looking down at his own work, turning his gaze back to Kassie. The Stark Girl tries to distract herself, convincing herself that she wasn't staring at the teenager in the other room as long as she had been. A soft but audible knock comes from Kassie's office door; she whips her head up to see Peter, holding one of his books and a pen. She feigns calmness as she waves him in and offers the boy a seat.

'Peter, is everything ok?' she asks him sweetly, as she rests her hands in front of her professionally.

'I-I um, wanted to, ah, ask for your help, w-with something.' Peter's voice cracks as he places his book open on Kassie's desk, 'I would've a-asked Bruce, um... but he's not here.' Peter speaks hurriedly as points his thumb out towards the lab to emphasise that the man wasn't, in fact, out there.